Florida ranks 50th in teacher pay among U.S. states and Washington, D.C., according to a report from the National Education Association, with salaries nearly $18,000 below the national average. Teachers in Orange County received a pay raise last year, but the report states that salaries across Florida are not keeping up with inflation. Florida’s average public school teacher salary last school year was $56,663, while the nationwide average was more than $76,000. California ranked first, with an average salary of over $103,000. Andrew Sparr with the Florida Education Association said, “Every educator understands that they don’t make enough money to pay their bills, to afford their healthcare.” He added that this is the third consecutive year Florida has ranked 50th. Florida’s teacher pay increased by about 3% from the previous year, but the union says inflation has caused real wages to drop by 12% over the past decade. “And then we have nearly $5 billion being diverted into unaccountable voucher programs. That’s money that’s coming right out of our schools in Orange County, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard County — they’re all losing because of this unaccountable voucher program,” Sparr said. The state does perform better in starting pay for new teachers, with an average salary of $49,435, slightly above the national average. State lawmakers have not yet passed a budget, as they are currently focused on congressional districts. “What does this lack of a budget mean? It means school districts don’t know how much money they’re going to have. It means they can’t plan for the future,” Sparr said. Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed spending $1.5 billion for teacher pay increases, but the final amount will not be known until the budget is approved.

FLORIDA —

Florida ranks 50th in teacher pay among U.S. states and Washington, D.C., according to a report from the National Education Association, with salaries nearly $18,000 below the national average.

Teachers in Orange County received a pay raise last year, but the report states that salaries across Florida are not keeping up with inflation.

Florida’s average public school teacher salary last school year was $56,663, while the nationwide average was more than $76,000. California ranked first, with an average salary of over $103,000.

Andrew Sparr with the Florida Education Association said, “Every educator understands that they don’t make enough money to pay their bills, to afford their healthcare.” He added that this is the third consecutive year Florida has ranked 50th.

Florida’s teacher pay increased by about 3% from the previous year, but the union says inflation has caused real wages to drop by 12% over the past decade.

“And then we have nearly $5 billion being diverted into unaccountable voucher programs. That’s money that’s coming right out of our schools in Orange County, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard County — they’re all losing because of this unaccountable voucher program,” Sparr said.

The state does perform better in starting pay for new teachers, with an average salary of $49,435, slightly above the national average.

State lawmakers have not yet passed a budget, as they are currently focused on congressional districts.

“What does this lack of a budget mean? It means school districts don’t know how much money they’re going to have. It means they can’t plan for the future,” Sparr said.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed spending $1.5 billion for teacher pay increases, but the final amount will not be known until the budget is approved.